If there’s one thing that seems to be a constant problem in the average household, it’s the buildup of mold. Whether you spot it on your shower curtain, in a dark corner of your basement, in your drain or even in your ventilation system, mold can have some dangerous effects on your health.
Mold most often forms in areas with moisture can it can start growing as soon as 24 hours after water has infiltrated an area. Mold can make you very sick, doing everything to causing irritation in parts of the body like the eyes or the lungs to causing severe breathing problems for folks with asthma or allergies.
All molds need moisture to grow and though you can easily spot in it in some areas of your home, in other places it may not be so easy to spot. One of those spots may be your home’s air ducts. You may think that all the air you breathe inside your home is clean air, but if you’ve got mold growing in and around your air ducts, it’s definitely not.
So what can you do? For starters you can have your air ducts cleaned by an air duct cleaning service. In fact, getting your air ducts cleaned every three to five years is recommended by the National Air Duct Cleaners Association (NADCA).
Should you need to hire an air duct cleaning service, you’re likely going to end up paying a chunk of money and you definitely want to make sure you’re getting the most for your money. If you’re looking for air duct cleaning services, here are some things to keep in mind:
- Cost: Whether you’re paying for a car repair, appliances or air duct cleaning services, you want to make sure you’re getting bang for buck. A typical air duct cleaning service bill may run you anywhere from $400 to $1,000 depending on what all is done, so you want to keep an eye on the price of services. The last thing you want is to be overcharged for something that may not even be connected to your mold problem.
- Effect: No scientific evidence has shown that cleaning air ducts has a noticeable impact on the air you breathe in your home. That being said, if you notice changes in the health of you or your love ones due to mold buildup, definitely spend the money and get your air ducts cleaned.
- Reputation: Before you have any air duct cleaning service or mold remediation services enter your home, do some research to find a company that’s reputable. You may find some business that offer to fix your problem for “the lowest price in town” or may offer to “clean your whole house for just $300.” If you’re on a budget, these offers may sound enticing, but there be a chance that you’re walking into a bait-and-switch where little or no work gets done and you get stuck with a hefty bill.
Reputable companies should be more than happy to show you their liability coverage and should be able to tell/show you exactly how they’re going to clean your air ducts. If you’re not sure, ask people around your neighborhood to see if they have any recommendations.
One thing to look for is to see if a company is certified by the NADCA. Members of the organization agree to follow a code of ethics set forth by the organization and they carry liability insurance.
If an air duct cleaning service does find mold in your ducts, don’t hesitate to seek out a second opinion. Reputable contractors won’t mind that you do this and ultimately you’re trying to do what’s best for you and your family. Bottom line: if you have a mold problem, don’t wait. Do what’s best for your health and get your air ducts cleaned.
